Job 23

1 Sotheli Joob answeride, and seide,

Then Job answered by saying:

2 Now also my word is in bitternesse, and the hond of my wounde is agreggid on my weilyng.

Now again my conversation is in bitterness, and the force of my scourging weighs more heavily on me because of my mourning.

3 Who yyueth to me, that Y knowe, and fynde hym, and come `til to his trone?

Who will grant me that I might know and find him, and that I may approach even to his throne?

4 Y schal sette doom bifor hym, and Y schal fille my mouth with blamyngis;

I would place judgment before his eye, and my mouth would fill with criticism,

5 that Y kunne the wordis, whiche he schal answere to me, and that Y vnderstonde, what he schal speke to me.

so that I may know the words that he will answer me and understand what he will say to me.

6 Y nyle, that he stryue with me bi greet strengthe, nether oppresse me with the heuynesse of his greetnesse.

I do not want him to contend with me with much strength, nor to overwhelm me with the bulk of his greatness.

7 Sette he forth equite ayens me, and my doom come perfitli to victorie.

Let him show fairness in response to me, and let my judgment reach to victory.

8 If Y go to the eest, God apperith not; if Y go to the west, Y schal not vndurstonde hym; if Y go to the left side,

If I go to the east, he does not appear; if I go to the west, I will not understand him.

9 what schal Y do? Y schal not take hym; if Y turne me to the riyt side, Y schal not se hym.

If I turn to the left, what can I do? I will not take hold of him. If I turn myself to the right, I will not see him.

10 But he knowith my weie, and he schal preue me as gold, that passith thorouy fier.

Truly, he knows my way and has tested me like gold that passes through fire.

11 My foot suede hise steppis; Y kepte his weie, and Y bowide not awey fro it.

My feet have been following his footsteps; I have kept to his way and have not strayed from it.

12 Y yede not awei fro the comaundementis of hise lippis; and Y hidde in my bosum the wordis of his mouth.

I have not withdrawn from the commands of his lips, and the words of his mouth I have hidden in my sinews.

13 For he is aloone, and no man may turne awei hise thouytis; and what euer thing he wolde, his wille dide this thing.

For he is alone, and no one is able to disturb his intention; and whatever his spirit wills, that he accomplishes.

14 Whanne he hath fillid his wille in me, also many othere lijk thingis ben redi to hym.

And when he fulfills his will in me, many other similar ones will also be present with him.

15 And therfor Y am disturblid of his face, and Y biholdynge hym am anguyschid for drede.

And, for this reason, I have been troubled at his presence, and, when I consider him, I am approached by fear.

16 God hath maad neische myn herte, and Almyyti God hath disturblid me.

God has weakened my heart, and the Almighty has confused me.

17 For Y perischide not for derknessis neiyynge; nethir myist hilide my face.

Yet I have not perished because of the threatening darkness, nor has gloom covered my face.